Summary: Regina, Marian and Robin celebrate their third wedding anniversary as a thruple, by taking a long weekend break. However, just before they left, their increasingly grumpy teenage son is proving to be a problem. But Roland has issues they're not even aware of…
Near the Town Line – three years later.
The three years following their wedding had been good for the Locksley family, with no new curses, demons or threats appearing in the little Maine town to disrupt their lives. Both the Sherwood Arms, and the Storybrooke Riding Centre continued to thrive and expand. Despite having two young daughters relatively close in age, the married trio managed to share the load between them. And if anything, their unusual marriage had become even stronger.
Henry, now twenty-five, had completed his Harvard degree two years ago, gaining first class honours in both English Literature and Modern Languages. So impressed were they by his final essays, which included a modified version of one of his storybooks into a fantasy tale, that he was surprisingly offered a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship to study in Oxford, in England. While Regina and Emma were both hugely proud of his achievement, the thought of losing their eldest for another two years filled them with dread as they would see even less of him. However, he was now a man, had already extensively travelled, so they'd grown to accept that he was making his own way in the world.
Roland was now fourteen, and sadly for his parents, he'd started to display all the stroppy angst, aggression, trauma and general self-loathing of being a teenager. Plus, was now going through that rebellious stage, when everything they did was wrong. And for some reason, he seemed to be regularly clash with Marian.
Roland's sister, Honour, was now almost four-and-a-half years old. Although looking like a mini version of Regina, she had her father's, and Marian's, relaxed manner and easy charm. Like Robin, she preferred being out of doors, preferably in the forest, and loved nothing more than to be out with her uncles in Sherwood. Fortunately for her parents, the powerful magic that Merlin had told them about, had yet to appear.
In contrast, her younger sister Charlotte, now nearly two-and-a-half, was a feisty little firebrand. Although look more like Marian, Charlie was turning out to be more like Regina In character. Verbose and a little precocious for her young age, and had a quick temper to match. But just like her sister, she adored two older brothers.
Marian sat at the wheel, having just driven for the last two hours, of a five hour journey from Martha's Vineyard, where the trio had just enjoyed a long weekend break, to celebrate their third wedding anniversary with Robin .
"You need to slow down just around the next bend, my love," Regina sat next to her, with Robin just behind. "The town line's pretty close, but I'm not sure if the magic works if we go over it at speed. Best not tempt fate…"
"That weekend flew by way too fast, didn't it?" Robin rested a hand on each of his wives' shoulders. "Should we go and collect Roland from Mulan's first, before heading over to pick up the girls? Or head back home and freshen up?"
Just before they'd left on Thursday afternoon, Roland had thrown an almighty tantrum at the thought of being left at home for three days with Kathryn and Jim, who were childminding his much younger sisters. He was no baby - he had a girlfriend! He'd shouted and argued and, when Marian had told him the decision was taken out of his hands, he went ballistic! He'd ran out of the window and fled, only to be tracked down by Robin. He was unrepentant and in the heat of the moment, had said some horrible things to Regina. That had made Marian furious in turn, and the whole thing had ended when Robin put in a call to Mayor. Philip had suggested the young man could stay at his place over the weekend, with his best friend Pip. So the matter was finally resolved, even if the teenager still hadn't apologized for his behavior before they'd left.
"Let's go home first. I'm missing the girls…" Marian squeezed her wife's knee. "But I still expect a proper apology from Roland, before he gets his privileges back! Honestly, I don't know where that temper of his has come from…"
Regina glanced back at Robin, both knowing the answer. Both of his mothers had fiery tempers! "He's a teenager, darling. He's just at that cantankerous age. Henry went through something similar. I really wouldn't worry about it…"
"But I heard what he called you, Gina! No-one, not even my own son, speaks to my wife like that!"
Robin hard a blip on his phone, looking down to find a new text. "I let Mulan know we're back Shortly…" He frowned. "But I just got a message back. It seems there's been a problem with Roland at school today!"
"Another one?" Marian rolled her eyes. "Hell, what is wrong with that boy?"
"Miladies, just listen; let's head home first. Then I'll leave you, and go talk to him at the Briar's first, not at home, before bringing him back. I might be able to find out what's wrong."
He saw Marian's eyes roll, in the rear-view mirror. "What's wrong, Robin, is that our son's a stroppy teenager! He needs to learn he can't just lash out like that."
When they arrived back at the mansion, after their four-day break, it was to hugs and kisses from Honour and Charlotte. Over coffees, Kathryn and Jim gave them an update on what the girls had been up to over the weekend. Then Robin briefly joined in, before disapparating, heading straight over to the Briar house's doorstep. After a brief chat with Philip, he discovered that apparently Roland had been in a fight earlier that morning with someone, though despite some repeated questioning, he wouldn't say who. He had only sulked, then disappeared to be alone.
"Regina told the school knew we were taking care of him till Tuesday, so they called me at the office. So I collected him a couple of hours ago. He's got quite a bug bruise on him, Robin. Though he clammed right up and wouldn't talk about it."
"Okay, mate. Thanks for doing thus forus and please thank Rory and Ping for minding him over the weekend! We owe you one. It sounds like he's sulking. Where's he now?"
"Up in the treehouse, last I saw him."
—-
A couple of minutes later, he shinned up the rope ladder and into the treehouse, only to find Roland looking away, despite having called him. He didn't seem too pleased to see him! In fact, he kept his head down from the moment he heard his voice, refusing to even look at him. Robin sat down next to him.
"So what's going on then, my boy? Mamma told me you swore at mum before we left. Then it seems you were in a fight? This isn't like you. Talk to me?"
"I dunno," he finally grunted. "Regina started shouting at me, and I lost my temper. I didn't mean what I said though…" he still kept his head down.
"Roland, you and I have never kept secrets from one another, have we? And I'm not going to let you start now. Again, please talk to me?"
Roland turned his head slightly, about to say something, when Robin saw the bruise! It wasn't just a minor one. His son's right eye had puffed up, the swelling revealing a small slit which he could just about see through! In place of a beautiful brown eye, courtesy of his birth mother, he now sported an enormous black one! With a large purple bruise, and yellow streaks underneath. It was horrific!
"ROLAND, WHO DID THAT?" he demanded, feeling his anger rising. "WHO HIT YOU?"
"It's not important. I can deal with it."
"Wrong! It's very important! Who hit you? And, if you don't answer, I'll find out for myself!" Robin was fuming. How could anyone do that to his son! "So, for the last time, what happened? Who gave you that bruise?"
But he wasn't budging. "Look, I'm handling it, okay? I kinda…hit him first."
Robin didn't care how it started. He just needed to find out for himself. So without asking, he placed the flat of his hand on the boy's forehead, before quickly using his magic to draw down his memories before he could object, as Merlin had taught him, to a point two days before the long weekend. Roland could do little but just sit watch, astonished at the thousands upon thousands of images and sounds that flashed past.
Robin slowed the rolling images, to a point the previous Thursday, when his son was cornered in the cloakrooms, by three boys a good deal taller than him. He saw how they'd threatened him, demanding his lunch money. A very foolish thing to do to a boy with magical parents! As the larger of the young thugs held him against the wall, he'd tried to fight back while the second one rummaged through his schoolbag, finding his wallet and extricating whatever was in there, including some notes. Robin seethed, silently, fast forwarding on. He slowed the images and sound again when he saw the conversation, later that evening, between Roland and his mothers. How they told him about the weekend break. About Kathryn and Jim staying at the house, and how they wanted him to help take care of his sisters. Marian had also asked him to tidy up his room. He'd mentioned that he was due to spend that weekend at a friend Ron's house, and really didn't want to come home just because his sisters had childminders. That's when things blew up! Regina told him she'd already spoke to Ron's parents and cancelled his overnight stay. That's when he lost it, having been looking forward to it. His temper flared, so did Regina's, and he ended up saying something to her that he shouldn't have. Robin winced when he heard the language used but moved the images on regardless. After his father arranged for an impromptu stay at the Briar house with his friend Pip, his weekend turned out to be quite good. Robin fast-forwarded the images to Monday, and slowed them when, during the morning break, his son was once again set upon by the young thugs!
Robin watched the images fly past while trying desperately to suppress his anger. How his son bravely told the three older boys to clear off. They'd laughed in his face, before one of them jibed that his parents were some of the weirdest people in Storybrooke. That the three of them were nothing more than perverts. That his mother and the 'dyke' she moved in with would quickly ditch his father now he'd produced babies for them. That they were 'lesbian freaks'. That his sisters would probably also be freaks! He's snapped, kicking the most foul-mouthed blonde boy in the shin. That was a mistake! The boy had responded by punching him hard in the face. And worse still, his two friends then went on to hold his arms back while the older boy slammed him in the face once again, plus another two in the stomach.
Robin finally removed his hand from his son's head, his mind wrapped up in too many emotions. He wanted to throttle the bastards! Or at least terrify them to within an inch of their miserable lives for hurting his son! But a small part of him knew it wouldn't be right to terrorize what were, after all, children. He looked down at the damaged eye. "Roland, I'd like to fix that eye of yours, but I want the hospital to check you out before I do. But first, I'm taking you home."
Before he could answer, he felt a pale white mist engulf him, as the pair were teleported straight back to Mifflin Street.
They apparated just inside the entrance of the mansion, Roland turning to head up the stairs, when Robin stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. "No, my boy, not yet. You've got some apologies to make first! Come on…" he whispered, leading him towards the living room, where they could hear voices. Nodding in resignation, he reluctantly walked towards the sounds, stopping at the doorway. His mother and stepmother had their backs to him, Marian kneeling on the floor, hugging her daughters as Regina appeared to be getting something out of a box, also on the floor. His sisters were clearly wearing some new clothes their parents had bought during their weekend trip.
"Oh Charlie, just look at you?" Marian gushed at her youngest, as the toddler turned excitedly in her new blue party dress. "You look so grown up! My perfect little princesses." Regina nodded in agreement, neither having spotted Roland in the doorway.
"And Honour, you look beautiful too!" The four year old was also dressed up, in a new dark green dress they'd just bought. The older girl didn't seem so bothered about clothes, but always liked being fussed over by her mothers. "Your first ever party frock. Come and give me a hug?"
Honour obliged, wrapping her arms around her neck. "Thanks. I missed you, mummy!"
Regina closed her eyes in bliss, hugging her tight. "I missed you too, my angel. We all did. But we're back now. Papa's going to be back soon, then we'll decide what to eat tonight, yes? Mamma thinks we should have a take-away."
Beside her, Marian had already engulfed their youngest in a hug of her own. "I think something Chinese tonight? Once he's dealt with that little problem we've got, then we can decide. But I'm not hungry yet. I've got my beautiful wife, and my beautiful girls here, all together again!" She blew Regina a kiss and hugged Charlotte a little tighter. "My girls. That's all I'll ever need…" She dropped a kiss on the toddler's head as Regina nodded back.
Roland heard everything from the doorway. Although it was meant as a simple statement of her love, to him, Marian's words meant something so very different. 'My beautiful girls…that's all I'll ever need…' His shoulders slumped. He'd come in to apologise for swearing at Regina before he'd left, but, hearing that, he just turned, swerving past Robin, to dash towards the stairs, before charging up them, two at a time.
"Roland?" he tried to stop him, but it was too late. "Ro - that's not what she meant!"
His voice made both mothers look up, not having realised they were there. "Robin?"
He ignored her. "Roland – come back?" he yelled again.
"We didn't hear you come back?" Regina stood, Honour still in her arms. "What's wrong?"
"What's wrong, is that my son has been beaten up at school! His face is a mess…"
Regina's jaw dropped; and it certainly got Marian's attention! "Whaaaat?" she also stood, the baby in her arms. "Here, take Charlie – I'll go up and talk to him…"
"No! Marian, not you! He just heard what you said. Leave it to me. I'm going to take him to hospital shortly anyway. We just came in to drop off his things…"
"He's our son,Robin, not just yours!" She was horrified at his rebuff. "And what do you even mean? What did I say?"
Upstairs, Roland was already in his little bathroom, getting changed into fresh clothes before his father took him off to the hospital. As he pulled a clean sweater over his head, he winced with pain when it grazed his swollen cheek. It was then he heard a soft knock on the bathroom door.
"Roland, can I talk to you?" Regina tried to keep her voice soft and calm, despite how she felt. She'd just apparated from downstairs the moment she heard about him having been beaten, not having heard Robin and Marian start getting into a heated argument. "Please?"
"Go away!" yelled the voice from the other side of the door. He sounded angry, and it bothered her.
"Roland, please? Your dad said you got hurt. I can help…"
"No, don't come in! I don't need your help! Just…just go away!"
It was rare for him to be angry, but lately he'd been becoming more irritable, something she'd put down to teenage hormones. But this seemed somehow…different.
"Roland…I'm not sure why you're angry with me, but I need to see your face, my love! Your dad said it was…hurt? Now please, open the door and come out, or I'll just have to come in there. Please?" She didn't have long to wait, fortunately. The door handle turned, before slowly opening. The fourteen-year-old, now over five foot two, stood impassively, looking up at her.
Regina's jaw dropped when she saw the state of him! Her beautiful dimple-cheeked stepson's right eye was now a painful, bruised slit! The sight made her feel almost sick. "Oh, my god, Roland!" she gasped. Recovering her composure, she brought a hand closer to the swelling. "Here, let me just…"
But he grabbed her wrist firmly, stopping her from using any magic on him. "No. Dad was going to do that, but he said there might be something wrong underneath. That's why he's taking me to the hospital in a minute." He also spoke firmly, clearly still angry.
"I see…" she nodded silently, realizing it was probably for the best. "And do you want to tell about how it happened?"
"Not really, no."
The way he said it made her flinch. It was as though his anger was directed at her. But what he said next really threw her. "Just go back to 'your girls'! After all…as mamma just said, they're all you'll ever need!"
"What? Roland, what on earth's that supposed to mean?"
"I heard her!" his one good eye positively scowled at her. "And you just agreed with her…"
She frowned, perplexed, not understanding what he was saying, or why. But before she could respond, Robin appeared. "Come on Roland, let's get you over to the hospital. Regina, we'll talk later."
Two hours later…
Robin had taken his son to Storybrooke Hospital. A senior nurse on duty had examined the eye carefully, and confirmed there was no retinal damage, though she'd also found some bruising not just on his face, but his chest and stomach too. Roland had stayed silent throughout, his earlier annoyance at his mothers still festering. But it was his birth mother he was most annoyed with. Regina had merely nodded in agreement at what she'd said, which really got under his skin. He was still sulking when they'd arrived home, only to find Marian waiting for him, now red-faced and nervous, clearly also having been crying. Earlier, Robin had told her what Roland had overheard her say, about only needing her girls.
Robin had decided not to use magic to heal the bruising around his eye at the hospital, thinking it best for Marian to see it first. So when her son walked through the front door, now seeing the swelling for the first time, she was mortified.
"Roland, I'm so, so, sorry!" She tried to hug him but he flinched, stepping back from her. "I honestly never meant it the way you heard it! Yes, of course I love our girls, your sisters, but I love you too! Just as much as them!"
"Didn't sound like it…" he grumped. "You said I was a 'problem' for dad to fix! I don't want to talk about it anymore. With any of you…" with that, he turned and stomped up the stairs, despite his mother sobbing, calling for him to come back.
"Just leave him be, Marian." Robin spoke softly, pulling her into his arms. "Let him cool off. He's been like that all evening. Come on into the living room, and I'll also tell you both what's been going on."
A few minutes later, in his room upstairs, Roland lay on the top of his bed, in his pyjamas, his tablet in his lap. He thought about giving Henry a call, but remembered last time, forgetting the time difference in the UK when he called him in the middle of the night. He was still in a foul mood when the door handle slowly turned and opened.
"I don't want to talk to any of you!" he growled, looking up from the screen, only to discover the unwanted visitor was neither his dad, nor his mothers.
"Rolly?" It was the older of his sisters. "What happened to your face?" Honour looked aghast. "Its sore. Are you hurtin'?"
He relaxed the moment he saw her. It was impossible to feel angry with the older of his little sisters. And Honour was always so considerate, and loved her brothers to bits. "I'm fine, Honny. I just fell and hurt myself..." He lifted her onto the bed, beside him. "But you should be asleep!"
Honour clambered over to sit close. "Couldn't. I knew you were poorly. I help?"
Downstairs, Robin had been telling his wives about how earlier he'd read Roland's thoughts, and what he'd been doing over the last week. About his being bullied at the hands of the three older boys. About stealing his lunch money. About the taunts and comments about his three parents and unusual family. And about the punches to his face and body. Both women were utterly horrified.
"My poor baby!" Marian, tears in her eyes, wept. "He should have said something."
"Those little bastards!" Regina was even more annoyed. "Beating a smaller boy like that! That eye looked dreadful. They should suffer! Robin, who are these boys?"
"I'd rather not say for the moment. But I'm going to be seeing them, and their parents, first thing tomorrow after I've spoken to the school, whether they like it or not! Roland did throw the first punch, and kick, which was wrong. But he was sorely provoked, and didn't deserve that."
"The poor thing. So what happened last Thursday, when he got angry, and swore at Gina? What was all that about?"
"He'd had his lunch money stolen by the swines, so he was hungry. He'd also been hurt, punched in the stomach in the cloakroom after they'd had a go at him about his parents!"
Regina frowned at the memory, now feeling guilty for having been stern with him at the time. "And when he got home, I just yelled at him for not putting his coat and shoes away! He was bruised and hungry, and there was me, shouting! Robin, I'd like to go to the school with you tomorrow."
"You weren't to know, Gina. But frankly, I'd rather I handle this myself. Roland's going to be reluctant to talk about it. Plus, I saw what happened. And it may be better you not being there…"
She arched a brow, glaring at him. "Knowing my temper would get the better of me and I might turn them to ash?"
He merely smirked. "Well…something like that."
Storybrooke High School
The following morning, just after nine, Robin, Marian and Roland walked into the School Principal's office, demanding to see Mr. Frank immediately. Jonathan Frank was an older man, who had reluctantly stepped into the role when Mary-Margaret had decided to step back from the position, becoming a part-time teacher. A wise old bird, the former English teacher came across as a wise, avuncular uncle to many of the pupils. Discipline was not his forte, though he could enforce it when needed. Hearing the commotion when he'd arrived, Show asked if she could join them, as Roland was currently in her class. Robin started off calmly, explaining what had happened to his son last week and yesterday. How they had returned from their anniversary weekend to find the boy badly beaten.
"With the greatest respect your version of events, Mr. Locksley, Roland doesn't look particularly beaten or bruised right now. He looks to be in the peak of good health!"
"That's because his younger sister healed him last night! You are aware there's magic in my family?"
"Certainly. Your family's renowned for it. Your other wife particularly. But I hardly think this…minor altercation…requires us taking it any further? Surely, it's just a scrap between a few youths? This sort of thing happens among teenage boys. Let me have a word with them, and I'm sure we can get this resolved?
"Minor altercation?" Marian was livid. "Are you mad? Half his face was unrecognizable! His body was covered in bruises! You have to take this further!"
The Principal sighed, looking at Snow, who'd been sitting silently, listening. "Oh, very well. Snow, would you be so kind to bring the three boys concerned back here? You'll know which classes they're currently in. Roland, you've been silent so far. Have you anything to add?"
The boy looked up at him. "What does it matter, anyway? One of them's mum's a teacher here. They'll just deny it! You'll just forget about it and they'll get me later. You guys are useless, you have no idea what's going on…"
Frank was shocked! He didn't know Roland very well but knew he was usually a considerate, friendly boy, with a happy-go-lucky disposition and a natural charm most of the teachers liked. But in front of him was this sad, demoralized teenager. Normally he'd chide a pupil for speaking to him like that, but seeing his state, he held back from commenting until he knew more.
As the four of them sat in silence, Snow returned with the three older boys. Marian glared angrily at them, all avoiding their audience as they stood in line beside the wall. Seeing Roland looking down and realizing what this was about, they all remained silent.
"Now boys. I've asked you in here because there's been a complaint about your behavior…" Frank began cautiously. "It is alleged that you three have been not only physically harassing a younger pupil, but apparently stealing money from him as well."
"THAT'S A LIE!" yelled Colin, the taller, blond boy. "We've never touched him until he kicked me!"
Marian was on her feet in an instant, moving right into his face. "Then you beat the living hell out of him, didn't you, you little shit!" she spat, furiously. Robin was now on his feet too, pulling her away.
"If he said that, he's lying!" said the second boy. The one who'd punched him in the principal sighed, knowing this was unlikely to get him anywhere. "Roland, would you like to say something? It's your word against theirs, after all!"
But it was Robin who spoke first. "Mr. Frank, as this boy's mother is a teacher here, could you get her in here please? We'll wait as long as it takes. I'm going to show you proof that Roland's told us the truth. After which, I expect you to deal with this incident properly! Otherwise…I may take matters into my own hands…"
Snow and Johnathan shared a worried look. They both knew about the man's powers!
It took a good half an hour before the taller boy's mother finally appeared, surprisingly alongside her husband; a broad, moody looking man who seemed annoyed to have been called away from work by his wife. Robin nodded in acknowledgment, before he stood.
"Now, to save everyone wasting any more time, let me put it quite simply. Your son, along with these other two boys, have been stealing from my son Roland, and to add insult to injury, this morning they beat him severely!" The other man stood, clearly angry and ready to defend his son. "Now before you argue, please sit still and watch what I have to show you…"
With that, Robin used his magic to draw down what looked to be a large circular hoop, with beads of all colours within. It attached itself to the wall and grew bigger, making even made Roland jerk up and pay attention.
"This is something called a dreamcatcher. It's a magical device for recording everyone a person has seen or experienced. Have you ever seen one before?" The other parents shook their heads, while the three boys looked increasingly nervous. "Now, I'm going to use it to show you exactly what this young man, your son, actually saw happen since Thursday! Pay attention please…" with a flick of his hand, all three boys suddenly felt themselves frozen to the spot, unable to move anything but their heads. Robin slapped a flat palm onto the oldest boy's forehead, the other pointing at the dreamcatcher, willing the images to come forward.
The pattern inside the dreamcatcher changed, only to be replaced by moving images, which seemed to be racing backwards like the rewind on a video. Having seen this before, Robin knew exactly where to stop, and where to start. The mouths of the other parents and teachers hung open in astonishment. The first thing they saw, through the eyes of the boy, was Roland directly in front of them as he walked into the cloakroom to leave his coat. Two of the bigger boys came into view as they closed in on him from either side.
"C'mon! Hand it over, Locksley!" said a voice, presumably that of the third boy.
They all watched as, after initially refused, Roland was pushed hard into a wall as one of them rifled his pockets, the other his bag. He looked genuinely frightened! A look that made Marian's heart break. There followed a stream of insults before he was pulled forward by his shirt collar and threatened, before they heard a low thud, Roland buckling over, having clearly been punched in the stomach.
Although seeing the tears now streaming down his wife's cheeks at the horrendous images being presented, Robin impassively fast forwarded to the next incident, on the Friday (the day after his parents had left for their weekend). Almost the same thing happened to him once again, coupled with many more insults, most of them about his 'pervert' parents. As Marian looked to be in pain, the other parents looked to be utterly mortified by what they were witnessing! But it wasn't over yet. The worst was still to come. Finally, he fast-forwarded to what had happened yesterday. Once again, Roland was threatened with menaces by these much taller thugs. Once again, they tried to steal from him, but this time, instead of fear, there was anger. Moving quickly, he rushed forward at the tallest assailant. A groan of pain was heard as he kicked him, hard, in the shin. But the retaliation was swift, the victim quickly grabbing his shirt before slamming his fist, even harder, into Roland's face, following it up with two more vicious strikes. The sight made Marian want to vomit!
Roland stared coldly at the parents, ignoring Snow and Frank. "Seen enough? Or do you want more?"
But the blonde boy's mother was already on her feet, stepping right in front of her guilty son. Without missing a beat, she gave him a blisteringly hard slap across his right cheek! "HOW DARE YOU?" she spat, in cold fury. "HOW COULD YOU DO THAT TO A YOUNG BOY?" Without warning, she suddenly lunged at him, slamming him hard against the wall, grabbing him by his shirt collars. The cocky young thug became terrified. "STEALING FROM CHILDREN?" She gave him another almighty clout, the other two boys scared she was about to turn on them too!
Principal Frank, who'd watched the whole thing in shock, now shook his head in resignation. "I'm calling all the parents. You boys are all suspended, with immediate effect! Colette, Mr Ferguson. I'm sorry, but considering what I've just seen, I have no choice but to also contact the Sheriff's Department. Snow, could you wait with them outside till they get here, please? I'd like to have a word with young Roland and his parents…"
The taller boy's father nodded, shaking his own head in weary disbelief. "I understand…" he then looked up at his red-cheeked son. "After that, you're grounded for the foreseeable future. You're no son of mine. You disgust me!"
The only one who wasn't on their feet was Roland, who still sat silently, shrugging off Marian's attempt to hug him. The Principal got up, moved over and knelt in front of him, as the older boys were led out. He put a hand on one of his own.
"Roland, my boy, I'm so very sorry you had to go through all that! From what I just saw, it must have been a very traumatic experience for you. But I also have to apologise for my own actions. I've clearly failed in my duty to protect you, when you're here in school. They'll be punished severely for what they've done, I promise you. And if anything like that ever happens again, I need you to come to me directly. Can you do that?"
Roland nodded, but still didn't look up at him. Or Marian.
That evening, after a traumatized and still very upset Marian got home, she told Regina about everything that had happened. About the dreamcatcher, and how one boy's mother had belted her son in front of them. And that, just before they'd left the school, Deputy Sheriff Mulan had arrived.
"I'm glad you went there instead of me, my love. Robin was right. If I'd watched all that, I would have incinerated all three of them were they stood! So how's Roland now?"
"Still refusing to talk to me! What am I going to do, Gina? He hates me!"
"He doesn't hate you, Marian. And he's also not talking to me either! He's just feeling very sore and insecure after everything he's been through, and I can't say I blame him. Let's let him be for this evening and give him a chance to get over everything."
"That's not enough. I need him to believe me!" Her wife's eyes were getting runny yet again, as though she hadn't done enough crying today! "When I saw him getting punched, that first time, I saw his face. He was terrified! I never want to see that look on him ever again…"
As Regina took her sniffling wife into her arms, Robin walked into the room. "He's settled in his room, and I think he's there for the night! Now, I know he hasn't eaten yet, or spoken to either of you, so I've got an idea…"
Meanwhile, in an upstairs bedroom…
"So what happened to the guys who beat you up?"
It was just nearly eight o'clock in the evening. As he sat at his little desk web browsing, Roland had been more than surprised, half an hour ago, to get a web call from his stepbrother in England. Especially when he heard it was two-thirty in the morning! Henry had called him at to catch up, after a discrete text from Robin saying he was having a hard time and could he give him a brotherly call. Roland, smiling for the first time in five days, told him everything that had happened.
"They called Mulan and she did her scary-warrior thing and arrested them! She told me later they were being charged, but because it'd been going on for a while, they're taking it more serious. They're all in the cells tonight, and up before the judge in the morning."
"Wow! But you look alright though?"
"Yeah, but only because Honnie patched me up! She's got some really weird magic. Wish I was like you all, and had it. Merlin said a few years ago that I had magic too, cos mamma and papa also had true love, but I can't see it happening!"
"Hey, you don't wanna rush that stuff! Think what would have happened if they tried to beat you up and you had it? You would have killed him, then you'd be in serious doo-doo!"
As he nodded, he heard a soft knock on his bedroom door. "Sorry Hen, someone's coming in. Can I call you back?"
"Yeah, but let's do it midday, okay? It'll be five over here and should be easier. Cheers, bro!"
"Come in…" he said, signing off the call. The door slowly opened, and his birth mother appeared with a tray. He sighed. "Mum…I'm not hungry, okay?"
"Yes, papa said. But I know you haven't eaten, so I brought something up."
"You're letting me eat in my bedroom?" Well that was a first! As Marian ignored his refusal, moving closer. When she rested it on the small table next to the desk, he saw what was on the tray. A whole pizza? And next to it was a cold glass of something darker, that looked like something his father drank. "Is that…?"
"A half pint of beer, yes. It's very rare we'd do this, but I know you and a couple of friends sneaked one in at the Sherwood not so long ago. I'm doing it to try and apologise…" She sat up on his bed, facing him, clearly feeling uncomfortable. "Roland, you're my son and I love you! I know what you heard me say yesterday in front of the girls, but I honestly didn't mean it like that. I was annoyed with you because of what happened on Thursday. But I wasn't aware of all the facts, and what was happening at school! Though I was annoyed with you, I never stopped loving you! And seeing this morning what you'd been going through nearly made me sick. I can't say it enough Roland; I love you, I always have and I always will. Even mothers make mistakes, but I really need you to forgive me!"
He looked up into her eyes and could see how shattered and weary she was. This had clearly taken a lot out of her and he couldn't be angry with her forever. He opened his arms, inviting her in. "I love you too, mamma" he squeezed her a little tighter. I forgive you."
Regina walked into the room just in time to see him take her into his arms, causing a stray tear at the sight. "That's a lovely sight. Roland, you need to eat that pizza before it gets cold! And be careful with that beer, young man; under aged drinking is not a habit I want you getting in to!"
"He nodded, with a coy grin. "So I'm assuming this was all dad's idea?"
Regina arched a brow. "Whatever gave you that idea?"
"Well…you and mamma never let me eat in here! And as for the beer… well, that's definitely a dad thing. He's pretty cool about that sort of stuff, saying I need to learn and try things but handle 'em sensibly. As I said he's cool…"
Marian sat up, with a quirky look on her face. "Are you saying we're not cool? I'll have you know I've done some stuff in my time, and I'm quite sure Regina has! Anyway…" she moved over to the little table, collecting the pizza. "This isn't just for you!" she tore off I slice, putting it in her mouth. As she did, the TV in the corner came to life, presumably by Regina's magic, as the remote now apparated into her hand as she sat on his other side, on the bed.
"If you'll let us, we're going to sit and watch a movie with you? And save a piece of that for me…" with another flick of her fingers, two glasses of chilled white wine appeared on the tray as she deftly changed channels to a player. "That is, if you don't mind your mothers watching this with you? Henry said you liked the first one…"
He nearly choked on his pizza when he saw which movie she'd set up. "Borat? You're kidding me?"
"Why should I be? Your mother and I saw the first one, didn't we darling?" she leaned across, kissing Marian on the cheek as she tore off her own piece of pizza. "It was crude yet…quite funny!"
Marian saw an astonished look on his face. "Perhaps we're not quite as square a you think?" she placed a kiss of her own on his left cheek, Regina immediately matching it with a kiss on his right. "If your dad is soooooo cool, why do you think he married two square-bears like us?" She kissed him again, on the cheek, but this time adding numerous loving pecks all over the side of his cheek and head. As he squirmed, albeit also starting to snigger uncomfortably, Regina did the same to the right side of his face, digging her fingers into his side, making him collapse, laughing, as both mothers held onto him, smothering him in kisses normally only reserved for a baby.
"Aah...Enough already!" he yelled, still giggling. "I'm getting to realise how dad feels!"
